I will investigate what mediates an effective human immune response to infection with Plasmodium falciparum malaria. I will approach this through studying the Fulani ethnic group of West Africa, who are relatively resistant to malaria infection. The basis of the Fulani protection from malaria has never been established. However, we have performed a pilot study which suggests that reduced levels of adenosine-to-inosine (A-to-I) editing of RNA by ADAR1 following P. falciparum infection can drive a more effective innate immune response in the Fulani. We have an established collaboration with the Malaria Research and Training Centre at University of Sciences Technique and Technology in Mali, who have strong ties to the Fulani community. At Stockholm University, I have had the opportunity to develop a strong background in immunology research techniques, specifically utilizing in vitro models of malaria infection in human monocytes, in the research group of Eva Sverremark-Ekström. As the role of RNA modifications is an emerging field, I plan to move to CEITEC, Czech Republic, to work with Mary O’Connell, who has pioneered the role of A-to-I RNA modification in the innate immune response to RNA. Specifically, we will test the hypothesis that reduced rates of A-to-I editing of RNA in the Fulani following infection enables them to mount a more effective innate immune response to P. falciparum malaria, and contributes to their relative protection from the disease. Further, targeting of ADAR1 and/or reduction in levels of A-to-I RNA levels may present a novel strategy to boost effective immune response to malaria.

Characteristic by indisputable quality and profound cultural syncretism, the art of medieval Georgia arose from a cultural crossroads between Europe and Asia and has unjustly been put off the side-lines of the art historical canon. The marginalization is due in large part to historiographic factors. Russian and Western scholars presented it from a colonial perspective as the art of the Byzantine periphery, analogous to the marginal political position of the South Caucasus within the USSR. In contrast, Georgian scholars throughout the 20th century were determined to demonstrate that Georgian “national” medieval art was fully autonomous and original. That reflected the Georgian impulse to achieve political autonomy within the Soviet Union. Deploying methods proper to the epistemology of art history, DeMGeo aims to investigate the historiographic construction of the three dominant narratives – Russian, Western, and Georgian – developed in art history textbooks about Georgian medieval art, within the context of the 20th century political and social history. By revealing and deconstructing political and ideological strategies in past scholarship, the ambition is to de-marginalize Georgian medieval art and to prepare the terrain for new research in the field within the framework of a transcultural approach. The results will be applicable for other marginalized art histories marked by contested historiography, specifically in the context of the countries behind the Iron Curtain, and/or of the young nation-states born from multi-ethnic empires. The project is in line with EU cultural diplomacy, contributing to debates about World cultural heritage as a peace-building and soft power tool in societies marked by conflict. DeMGeo will be targeted at diverse audiences, thanks to the support of the CEMS (HI), developing and applying innovative methods in the communication of academic research.

EduClimate aims to address the critical and underexplored issue of how rising temperatures, a consequence of climate change, impact educational outcomes in Europe. The primary objective is to quantitatively evaluate the effects of increasing temperatures on student performance across various educational systems, utilizing large-scale datasets from international assessments such as PISA, TIMSS, and PIRLS, integrated with high-resolution climate data from the ERA-5 reanalysis. The secondary objective is to explore and prioritize Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) as sustainable strategies to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change on educational environments. By employing advanced methodologies, including machine learning, GIS technology, and IoT sensors, EduClimate will model the relationship between temperature anomalies and educational outcomes, and assess the efficacy of NBS interventions. The project is highly relevant to the Horizon Europe work programme as it addresses the intersection of climate resilience and educational sustainability, offering actionable insights for policymakers, educators, and urban planners. EduClimate will fill a significant gap in current research, providing robust data-driven strategies to enhance the resilience of educational systems to climate change, ultimately contributing to the development of more equitable and sustainable societies.

Per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are highly fluorinated compounds, with a variety of industrial and consumer uses, including stain resistant coatings, plastics, fire‐resistant coatings, and fire‐fighting fluids. PFAS are the active ingredient in aqueous film‐forming foam (AFFF) use to extinguish fuel-based fires. Potential links between the occupational use of AFFF by firefighters and certain negative health outcomes have not been sufficiently studied. As the overall objective of this study is to investigate the influence of PFAS newly identified in AFFF on reproductive health of firefighters, we will fully delineate PFASs composition found in AFFF and use by firefighters during their duties. We intend to characterize the composition of individual PFASs and their precursors in AFFF using unique analytical set up consisting of liquid chromatography-inductively coupled plasma tandem mass spectrom¬etry (LC-ICPMSMS) followed by high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-OrbiTrap -MS). We will perform sampling and analysis of blood and semen in newly recruited group of firefighters after their first exposure to AFFF to monitor the change in concentration levels of the compounds identified in the AFFF and evaluate the relations with fertility parameters (sperm count, morphology, motility), as firefighters are at higher risk to be diagnosed with male infertility. To directly compare in vivo observations and verify our findings we will set up in vitro experiments to elucidate the effects of these compounds on steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis pathways. The proposed interdisciplinary study is a major step in elucidating the role of PFAS originating from AFFF in male reproductive health. Moreover, these findings will also support efforts designed to introduce a more rigorous regulatory framework tackling PFAS collectively rather than on a compound-specific basis.